iPad Trade-ins Increase Tenfold on eBay as iPad 3 Launch Gets Closer

With the iPad 3 launch coming up next week, iPad trade-ins have increased. Users are trying to get rid of their old iPads to help pay for the newest iteration of the Apple tablet. In fact, users are actually trading in more iPads this year than the same time last year.

According to CNET, eBay has seen a tenfold increase in the number of iPad trade-ins in February this year.

Ebay’s trade-in program had more than 125,000 tablet trade-ins this past month, with 97.6 percent of those being iPads. Those are just sales in eBay’s Instant Sale program, which offers cash for items which eBay will then cover shipping for. It’s eBay’s alternative to Gazelle.

Of the iPads that were traded in using eBay’s Instat Sale program, the most popular model has been the first generation Wi-Fi. Although the first generation iPad Wi-Fi + 3G had the most offers, owners are checking prices but apparently not trading them in just yet. Or they decided to go somewhere else to sell their iPad.

A quick look on eBay’s Instant Sale website lists the iPad 2 Wi-Fi +3G model going for a maximum of $410, while an iPad 1 Wi-Fi + 3G will fetch a maximum of $225.

Keep in mind, however, that there are other ways out there to sell your iPad. There’s other, similar websites, which can offer the same details.

You can also try selling your old iPad on eBay yourself. You might want to do it quickly before the value goes down too low. If you do decide to go that route, check out our handy guide to selling your iPad on eBay like a pro. With that you should be able to get more money for your old iPad. It might not be enough to get more than the base model iPad 3, but any extra money helps.

Or you could just hand your iPad down to a friend or family member who might want it.